Best Sitcoms to Watch With Your Tweens and Teens (Plus Family TV Night Tips)

In this post:

• Why watching TV together is so good for tweens and teens
• Simple ground rules for family TV night
• One family’s top ten sitcoms, plus updated picks for today
• Questions to ask after an episode (for tweens and for teens)
• A free Family TV Night Pack you can print

A note from me: this is one of our most-loved posts, written by a guest writer and fellow mom in our community. I’ve updated it with new show ideas, research and a free printable, and kept her story just the way she shared it. xo Sheryl

Why I Bond With My Teens Over Sitcoms

When it comes to pop culture humor, my kids and I are traveling through significantly different thought universes.

Half the time, I recognize the words they are using as part of the English language, but I cannot understand why exactly those words are cracking them up. In most cases, it’s because I haven’t seen the meme or the video they are referencing. And, to be honest, even if I have seen it, I still don’t get the humor.

As my kids grow up bombarded with content that is so distinct from my own experience, I want to make sure that we continue to share a common language of laughter, beyond making fun of their dad’s fashion choices.

True confession: the best way that I have bonded with my teenagers is by watching television together. A lot of television.

As a nerdy, English-teacher mom, that is not an easy disclosure to make. In my fantasy world, my kids and I would live in some utopian reading society where we would laugh and learn about life through our shared love of literature. However, dear readers, sharing books with my kids is not my (current) reality. My reality is grabbing some popcorn, flopping on the couch, and turning on the television.

I don’t even feel guilty about that. My kids are growing up fast, and our lives are super busy. My girls, who used to be the best of friends in elementary school, are now teens who hang out separately as their interests and friend groups diverge. In our on-the-go household, I treasure these chances to bond by binge-watching some television together.

Sitcoms are a great place to start because they’re short. Most episodes run about 21 minutes without commercials, so you can usually squeeze in an episode or two a few times a week.

Is Watching TV Together Actually Good for Teens?

Yes, and there’s research behind it. In a Brigham Young University study of 453 families with kids around age 14, parents and teens who watched TV and movies together reported higher levels of family connection. A follow-up study of 633 teens and their parents found families used shows and movies together for fun, for emotional connection and as a way to start conversations, and positive media time was linked to more parent involvement and, for boys, teens sharing more with their parents.

Watching together can be protective too. A 2021 study on TV and teen drinking found that for teens who push back hard against rules, having parents who watched TV with them was linked to TV having less influence on their plans to drink.

These studies show a connection, not proof that TV night causes closeness. But they match what so many of us see at home: watching together can open up hard conversations your kid might not start on their own. Sitting side by side, with no pressure to make eye contact, is often when they finally talk.

How Do You Make Family TV Night Work?

Here are her ground rules, and they still hold up:

1. Watch the shows together. No binge-watching on separate devices in separate rooms with a plan to share notes later. Same room, same time.
2. Be present. That load of unfolded laundry might be screaming your name, and your fingers might be itching to check work email. Pause the distractions and BE with your kids, and ask that they be with you too. Her super-clever phrase: “One screen at a time, people. One screen.”
3. Pick a show everyone can enjoy. Don’t watch The Simpsons if that’s not your thing. Don’t make your kids watch The Golden Girls if they won’t get the humor.
4. Give a show three or four episodes before you abandon ship. Take Parks and Rec: the first season is sort of meh, but by Season 2 the writers found their groove and the quirky characters really came to life.
5. Keep the shared moments going. She and her teen have had whole text conversations made of nothing but Michael Scott and Dwight Schrute GIFs. Inside jokes from a show can keep you connected all week.
6. Take turns choosing. Let your tween or teen pick sometimes. Watching their show tells them you care about what they love.

One Family’s Top 10 Sitcoms to Watch With Teens

These were her family’s favorites when she wrote this post:

1. The Office
2. Parks and Rec
3. Black-ish
4. The Goldbergs
5. Brooklyn Nine-Nine
6. Psych
7. American Housewife
8. Young Sheldon
9. Fresh Off the Boat
10. MasterChef (and MasterChef Junior)

A few of these, like The Office and Brooklyn Nine-Nine, are rated TV-14 and have some grown-up humor. They’re a great fit for many teens, but preview an episode first if you have a younger tween.

More Great Shows to Watch With Tweens and Teens

Here are more ideas, including newer favorites and shows moms in our community love. Ratings and streaming services change, so look each one up and watch an episode first.

Laugh-out-loud sitcoms

• The Middle
• Abbott Elementary
• Ghosts
• Young Sheldon
• Boy Meets World
• Full House

Cooking and competition shows

• The Great British Baking Show
• Nailed It!
• LEGO Masters
• Kids Baking Championship
• The Amazing Race
• American Ninja Warrior
• Shark Tank
• Top Chef

Classics to share

• I Love Lucy
• The Dick Van Dyke Show
• The Andy Griffith Show
• The Carol Burnett Show
• Gilmore Girls

For curious minds and mystery lovers

• How It’s Made
• MythBusters
• Monk
• A Series of Unfortunate Events
• Impractical Jokers (TV-14)

Looking for a movie night instead? Try our list of 75 Fun Family Movies For Kids Ages 12-16. Want to mix it up with something off-screen? Try 18 Hilarious Family Games Your Tweens and Teens Will Actually Want to Play or 50 Fun Family Activities Your Tween or Teen Will Actually Enjoy.

What Should You Talk About After an Episode?

You don’t have to turn every episode into a lesson. Ask one easy question, really listen, and let the laughing be the point.

With a tween: “Which character are you most like?” or “Who would you want as a real-life friend?”

With a teen: “Was that joke funny, or was it a little mean?” or “What would you have done in that situation?”

When a hard topic comes up on screen, it’s a gentle way in. Try saying: “What did you think about how she handled that?” Then listen more than you talk.

What If a Show Doesn’t Fit Your Family?

Every family has to find what works for its own sense of humor and values. She loved Friends when she was younger, but when she rewatched a few episodes in search of a show to share with her girls, she didn’t love it through a mom’s lens. Same with Seinfeld: the characters were funny, but they just weren’t lovable. She wanted hints of sweetness mixed in with the laughter.

It’s okay to say, “This one isn’t for us,” and keep looking. And if something on screen surprises you, pausing to talk about it is often more powerful than turning it off.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are good sitcoms to watch with a 12-year-old?

Shows rated TV-PG, like The Middle, Young Sheldon, Abbott Elementary, Ghosts, Boy Meets World and Full House, are great places to start. Watch an episode first so you know what to expect.

Is The Office okay for teens?

The Office is rated TV-14, and many families watch it with teens. It has some grown-up humor and awkward moments, so it’s usually a better fit for older teens than younger tweens. Preview a few episodes and decide what’s right for your family.

How often should we have family TV night?

Whatever fits your life. Even one or two short episodes a week, on the same night, can become a ritual your kids look forward to.

What if my teen only wants to watch on their phone?

Invite them to pick the show and watch it together on the big screen. Let them introduce you to something they love. You’ll learn a lot about what’s going on in their world. For more on finding balance, see A Parent’s Guide To Managing Screen Time.

Enjoy your TV time with your kids, mama. Sharing a giggle with your tween or teen is a lovely moment any time of day. I’m so grateful for the gift of laughter in our homes, and for every small moment that keeps our hearts connected.

xo Sheryl

Sheryl Gould is the founder of Moms of Tweens and Teens, a Parent and Relationship Coach with 18 years of experience, a mom of three, the author of SOS! The Technology Guidebook for Parents of Tweens and Teens, and the host of the Moms of Tweens and Teens podcast.